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I find negative roles particularly compelling: Sanjay Dutt

Also written by Puri Jagannadh, 'Double iSmart' features Kavya Thapar as the female lead.

South First Desk

Published Aug 11, 2024 | 11:34 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 11, 2024 | 11:34 PM

Sanjay Dutt plays the baddie in 'Double iSmart'. (X)

Sanjay Dutt plays the baddie in 'Double iSmart'. (X)

Actor Sanjay Dutt is set to play the main antagonist in the upcoming Telugu film, Double iSmart, directed by Puri Jagannadh and starring Ram Pothineni. At the launch event for the film’s first song, “Big Bull,” the Bollywood actor discussed his preference for negative roles in South Indian cinema.

Sanjay Dutt explained, “It’s a challenge for me to work in the South film industry, and I find negative roles particularly compelling. There’s a lot to do—beating, getting beaten up. Though certain elements are no longer allowed, there’s still plenty for an actor to engage with.”

He spoke highly of working with Pothineni and Jagannadh, stating, “We’re all fans of Puri. As Ram mentioned, he changed Telugu cinema with his distinctive style. I’m grateful to be part of Double iSmart and enjoyed working with Ram. He’s like a younger brother, a great performer, and we had a lot of fun filming in Dubai and other locations.”

 Double iSmart also stars Kavya Thapar, Sayaji Shinde, Bani J, Getup Srinu, Ali, Makarand Deshpande, and Jhanse. Produced by Puri Jagannadh and Charmme Kaur with music by Mani Sharma, the film will be released in multiple languages on 15 August. It will clash at the box office with Ravi Teja’s Mr Bachchan.

Further, Ram Pothineni expressed his admiration for Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, particularly noting Kapoor’s portrayal of Sanjay Dutt in Sanju (2018). Pothineni hopes to collaborate with Kapoor in the future.

Double iSmart recently received an A certification from the CBFC and has a runtime of 2 hours and 42 minutes, making it longer than its predecessor.

Double iSmart marks Sanjay Dutt’s Telugu debut, where he plays the antagonist Big Bull.

According to a statement released by the makers, “At the heart of the narrative is the Big Bull, whose relentless pursuit of immortality drives him to undertake a groundbreaking experiment. His plan involves transplanting his brain into the body of Double iSmart, setting the stage for the intense confrontation between two big dynamos.”

 With music by Mani Sharma, Double iSmart features cinematography by Sam K Naidu and Gianni Giannelli, and editing by Karthika Sreenivas R.

As one of the major Independence Day releases this year, Double iSmart is expected to perform well, especially given the success of the previous film in the franchise, iSmart Shankar (2019). Both Ram and Puri Jagannadh are hoping for a successful comeback following the disappointments of their recent projects, Skanda (2023) and Liger (2022).

Other notable South Indian releases, around the same time include Manoradhangal, Thangalaan, Raghu Thatha, and Demonte Colony 2.

(Edited by S Subhakeerthana)

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